Tag Archives: how to string jewelry

In this episode of Emerging Creatively Tutorials TV, I teach you how to use wire guards (I kept calling them guardians! LOL), how to string and how to use crimp beads to make a necklace.

In my case, I was fixing a necklace I made for my mom many, many years ago. But you can use this tutorial to fix a necklace or make a fresh new necklace! Or, of course, you can use this tutorial to make bracelets as well.

Here’s the video:

Stringing with Wire Guards Tutorial in Step-by-Step Photos:

Tools and Materials:

Beads (or a broken beaded necklace)

Stringing wire

Crimp beads (I use 2 on each end, 4 total, but 1 per end is fine)

Crimp bead covers for each crimp bead (optional)

Wire guards – 2

Clasp of your choice plus jump rings to attach it

Wire cutters

Crimp tool or chain nose pliers

Beading tray or something you can arrange beads on such as a piece of felt or a towel so they don’t roll around.

Step #1

Arrange your beads in the order you would like. In my situation, I fixed a necklace that was already designed. Luckily most of the beads stayed on the original wire in the original order so I just kept that.

Step #2

Cut your beading wire. Cut as much as you need to hold all your beads plus several extra inches to work with.

*I always say it’s actually better and less costly to cut a little too much wire than not enough because if you don’t cut enough you can’t use it at all and it’s wasted. If you cut a little too much it’s much less that will be wasted.

Step #3

On one end of the wire, slide on the wire guard. There are two tubes and then the bent part is open. Just slide the wire through making sure to leave extra wire.

This will be pulled tight against the wire guard in the next step.

*NOTE: I added my clasp on at the end with jump rings. However, if you want to add a clasp now you can slide it onto the wire and situate it in the wire guard before the next step.

Step #4

Slide a crimp bead over both of the wires and pull it against the wire guard. Pull everything tightly.

Step #5

Now we’ll close the crimp bead with the crimp tool. You’ll notice that there are 2 notches in your tool. One is larger and closer to the handle and one is smaller and closer to the tip.

Place the crimp bead in the larger notch and squeeze it closed. You’ll smoosh the crimp bead closed and you’ll notice a notch or bend in the middle of the crimp bead.

Step #6

Now place the crimp bead in the smaller notch. You’ll be folding the crimp bead in half.

Step #7

Optional: Add a crimp bead cover to cover your crimp bead. I use my crimp tool to place it over my crimp bead and then close it. It should look like a regular bead when it’s closed.

Step #8

I like to use 2 crimp beads per end and others use only 1. It’s up to you. I wrote a post why I used 2 here.

I use a crimp bead, a small regular bead and then an additional crimp bead. In the photo you can see that I have placed crimp covers over both crimp beads.

Step #9

Now you can start stringing. Place a few beads over the shorter end of the wire. We’ll trim it later.

Step #10

When you are done stringing beads, check the fit before finishing the necklace.

Step #11

Complete the other end the same way you did the first end. However, you have to place the components on differently since there are beads on it now.

Slide on a crimp bead, a small bead, a crimp bead, the wire guard and then pull the wire around and back through the crimp bead, small bead, crimp bead and then a couple of beads from the end of the necklace.

(If you’d like to attach a clasp like I mentioned before without a jump ring, place it in the bend of the wire guard before pulling the wire back through the crimp beads and other beads.)

Pull everything tightly, close the crimp beads and add covers if you like.

Step #12

Make sure everything is secure and then trim off the excess wire.

Step #13

Using jump rings, attach your clasp to the end. I used a lobster clasp on one end and a jump ring on the other end. For help opening jump rings, click here.

I’ve been eying up these recycled glass beads from Happy Mango Beads. As you may know, recycled jewelry is kind of my thing.

I was out of beading wire (I know, crazy, right?!?) and didn’t feel like running out to get some more. That is how I came up with this design and technique. Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say.

Materials and Tools:

For Necklace:

Clear Round Tabular Recycled Glass Beads – Indonesia 14mm (You’ll need a full strand for the necklace and a partial strand for the earrings and bracelet)

Cotton Cord – you can get this at Fire Mt. Gems or at most crafts stores – 1mm

This is necklace is especially great for those of you who have metal allergies! No metal involved.

Step #1

Cut some cord. I started out with more than twice the length of the necklace I wanted and had some excess. Figure out how long you want your necklace and double it.

Step #2

Now we’re going to start beading. Make a knot, add a bead, make a knot, add a bead, etc.

When you are making your knots, keep them close to the beads.

Before your first knot, leave several inches.

Here’s how I did it:

Hold the cord very close to the last bead and start to make the knot.

While you are pulling the knot closed, also pull it close to the bead.

As I’m pulling the knot, I hold the cord right next to the bead and make sure to get it right near the bead.

Alternatively, you could use some sort of a stick to make sure you get the knot close to the bead.

I beaded one strand of the glass beads. You can decide how long you would like your necklace. I considered making it really long, but when I tried it on after beading one strand, it looked perfect so I stopped.

Step #3

The the cord so that it’s even on the ends and then you can tie a bow to create the necklace. It’s somewhat adjustable in length, just tie the bow in different places.

(Note: If you prefer to add a clasp to the end, read on for how I added a clasp to my bracelet and use it on your necklace.)

Recycled Glass Bracelet Instructions

Step #1

Measure out cord about twice around your wrist. Use the same knotting/beading technique as you did for the necklace.

Since a bracelet is difficult to tie on yourself, we’ll add a clasp instead.

Step #2

Add a crimp end to each end and then trim off the excess cord. These are also called “fold over” crimp ends. Just fold over one side and then the other and squeeze it closed. Pull on it to make sure it is secure.

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